Apparatus for exercising eye muscles



1,638,058 A 9,1927. 41M; POWELL v APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING EYE MUSGLES I Filed June 4, 1926 Patented Au 9, i927.

JOHN MILLS POWELL, OF GALAX, VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING EYE MUSCLES.

Application filed June 4, 1926. Serial No. 118,766.

The present invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for exercising the extrinsic muscles of the eye.

By means of the apparatus hereinafter described, it ispossible to so exercise the eye muscles as to restore a weakened muscle and develop it so that it will possess normal power.

Generally stated, the purpose of the invention is to provide a simple means by which a patient whose head is maintained in a stationary position, in following the movement of anoscillating target, will be caused to so exercise the extrinsic muscles as to correct or relieve various anomalies of the eyes, for example, esophoria, exophoria, hyper phoria, hypophoria, strabismus, and ptosis.

The invention is designed for use by professional optometrists who can intelligently adjust before patients eyes lenses of the proper character and of such prismatic power as to lessen, and also to increase that efl'ort of function, on that particularv weaker member of the muscle group to be exercised.

With this end in view, the invention consists in an apparatus having its parts constructed and related to operate in. substan-.

tially the form and manner hereinafter described. i

In the accompanying drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, although it will be appreciated th:.t there can, of course, be considerable modification in many of the details shown with- 'Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from the rear, of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an 'enlar ed sectional view of the mounting of the osci lating target carrier.

Figure 3 is an elevation of some of the parts shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail.

out departing from the invention. The ao-v Figure 5 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 with the locking arm in inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings the improved apparatus includes a suitable support, Which comprises a base plate 1 mounted on casters 2, so that it. may be readily moved over the floor. From the base ,plate 1 rises a side wall 3 and end walls 4, 5, the upper edges of which are connected by a top 6.

As shown, the top 6 is of less width than the end walls 4, 5, and the several walls provide a partial enclosure for portions of the apparatus that will be hereinafter more particularly described.

An upright 7 rises from the top 6 about midway of the length thereof and adjacent the wall 3. This upright is of suflicient length to ermit of it being grasped without requiring the operator to stoop, and in addition to the function hereinafter described, serves as a means for applying power to shift the apparatus upon the casters 2 as desired. A target carrying member is connected to therearward edge of'the top 6 by means permitting it to oscillate about a horizontal axis. As shown, this carrier includes a body member 9, which is mounted to oscillate about a pivot pin 10 secured in and projecting rearwardly from the top 6, said body memberbeing shown arranged between collars 11, .12, fitted upon the pin 10. Fitted in a suitable socket formed in the upper'end of the member 9 is a rod 13, which extends upward and carries a suitable target or observation element, upon which the patients eye is to be directed when the apparatus is in use. Preferably, and as, shown, this tar t comprises an electric lamp bulb 14 suitab y supported at the extreme upper end of the rod 13, and the current for which is supplied through a flexible conductor 15 that extends longitudinally of the rod and passes through a passage 16 in'the body member 9 of the carrier, relatively near the pivotal axis of such member.

A threaded extension 17 connected with and depending from the member 9, supports a counterbalance 18,-which is adjustable toward and from the axis of the carrier memher 9, and is soadjusted that it will act to retain the target carrier in a substantially vertical position.

Means are provided whereby the target carrier will be positively oscillated about its pivotal support so that the target 14 will travel in an are shaped path, the'le'ngth of which may, as hereinafter pointed out, be varied within certain limits.

Any suitable means for thus oscillating the target carrier may be employed. In the drawing there is illustrated, more or less conventionally, a form of magnetic motor 20, which includes an oscillating shaft 21 that extends. forward from the motor casing and through a passage in which passes a pin 22. This pin 22is vertically adjustable relative to the oscillating shaft 21 being secured at the desired elevation by a set screw 23. At its upper end the pin 22 is forked,

and in such fork is supported a small pul-- ley about which is fitted an eye of a link member 25. A turn buckle 26 adjustably connects this link member with a general- 25 ly similar member 27 that engages a pulleylike head 28 on a stud 29 secured to the target carrier body member 9. The motor 20 is shown as being supported upon an L-shaped bracket comprising a ver-,

30 tical member 30. and a foot piece 31. which is secured to the base plate 1 adjacent the end wall member 5. v

The shaft 21 extends through the member 30 of-this mot'or supporting bracket.

'When the motor 20 is operated, it will be evident that the target carrier, comprising the members 9, 13 and 17, will be oscillated and the extent of movement in either directlon from the normal vertical position of the rod 13 may bevvaried and controlled byad- Justme'nt of the turn buckle or coupling member 26, and by slightl varying the po sltion of the weight 18.to the oscillating-axis of the target carrier. As noted, it is preferred to employ an electric lamp bulb as the target or observation piece for the apparatus and the flexible current supplying conductor therefor is shown as being conn ected to a suitableterminal or socket carried by the upright 7 and in turn adapted to be connected b a suitable conductor, not shown, with a ooror wall plug of an electric'illuminating system.

While the pendulum-like weight 18 will, as previously noted, operate to retain the target carrierin substantially vertical positron when the-motor 20 is not operating,it is preferred to provide means forinsuring ,that the carrier will be retained in such vertical position when the machine is not in use and not be liable to be shifted therefrom as the apparatusis moved over the floor, or disturbedby any blow or shock.

Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the target carrier adjacent the outer end of the upright. 7 with such upright. As shown, an arm 40 is connected by a hinge 41 to the face of the upright 7. so that it can swing outward therefrom into position to have the rod 13 of the target carrier received within a recess 42 formed in said arm, or the arm may be swung upward to lie against the face of the upright 7 out of engagement with the target carrier. An auxiliary latch 43 hinged at 44 to the arm 40 operates to retain the target carrying arm 13 within the recess 42 when the arm is in position to engage such target carrier. When, however, the arm 40 is swung upward.

or away from engagement with the target carrier rod, said latch 42 can be turned forward over the upper end of the upright 7 to retain the arm ,40 in its inoperative position.

In using the invention it is expected that the optometrist will place the apparatus at a suitable distance from the patient whose head will preferably be held stationary by a .suitahlesupport. The lamp 14 being suit-- ably lightedand the stop arm 40 disengaged from the target carrier, the motor 20 will 'be set in operation and the target carrier the particular (0101' being selected to suit the individual need or preference of the patient.

The effect of an operation of the apparatus is substantially that of a rainbow, which is not trying or produces no undesirable strain upon the eyes of the patient.

By an intelligent use ofan apparatus such as described many eye troubles, such as those hereinbefore mentioned, can be relieved without having to resort to'operation or surgical methods.

It will be noted that the operation of the apparatus is entirely automatic and independent of any control or action on the part of the patient. Preferably. the parts are so proportioned that the oscillating target 14 is, when in upright position, at a height of six feet from the floor and the diameter of the arc orsemi-circle produced by oscillating the target is approximately ten feet,

the terminals of the oscillating motion in eighteen ning and early stages of a treatment the. patient will be provided with a lens of a .and placed as to give said member an effort greater than any of the other muscles.

. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an observation target pivotally supported on the base to move about a horizontal axis, and means for imparting regular, periodic, oscillations of a predetermined length to said target, each oscillation carrying the targetthrough a path intersecting the perpendicular extending'through the said horizontal axls.

2. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an observation target pivotally supported on the base to move about'a horizontal axis, and

means for imparting regular periodic oscillations of definite predetermined length to sa d target, each oscillation carrying the target through an arcuate path of approximately 180.

3. An apparatus for the purpose described. comprising a suitable base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base to turn about a horizontal axis, an observation target including an electric lamp bulb supported on the upper end of said rod, and means for positively oscillating the target carrier, through a path of predetermined length. 4. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suit-able base, an elongated member -pivotally supported on said base to turn about a horizontal axis and provided with an observation target, means for positively oscillating the target carrier, and adjustable means for varying the extent of oscillation of said carrier.

5. An apparatus 'for the purpose described, comprising a' suitable base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base to turn about a horizontal axis and provided with an observation target, above the pivotal axis of said member. means adjustable longitudinally of said member. below its pivotal. axis, acting to maintain it in vertical position, and automatically acting means for positively oscillating said target carrier, each oscillation moving the carrier through a path extending on opposite sides of such vertical position.

6. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an upright rising from said base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base at one side of the upright to turn about a horizontal axis, an observation target on said member above its pivot, adjustable means connected to the upright and adapted to engage the target carrier to hold it in vertical position, and means for positively oscillating the target carrier about its pivot when it is disengaged from said holding means.

7. An, apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an upright rising from said base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base at one side of the upright to turn about a horizontal axis, an observation target on said, member above its pivot, an arm hinged to the upright to swing to and from a position where a recess therein will receive the target carrying member when th latter is in a substantially vertical position, an ad- .justable latch for retaining said member within said'recess, and means for positively oscillating the target carrier about its pivot when said arm is disengaged from the carrier.

8. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an upright rising from said base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base at one side of the upright to turn about a horizontal axis, an observation target on said member above its pivot, an arm hinged to the upright to swing to and from aposition where a recess the-rein will receive the target carrying member when the latter is in a substantially vertical position, an adjustable device adapted to retain the target carrier within said recess when said arm is in operative relation thereto and to engage the upright when said arm is swung to inoperative relation to said carrier, and means for positively oscillating the target carrier about its pivot when said arm is disengaged therefrom. I

9. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an upright rising from said base, an elongated member pivotally supported on said base at one side of the upright to turn about a horizontal axis, an observation target on said member above its pivot and including an electric lamp, an electric conductor extending longitudinally of the target carrier from said lamp and passing through said carrier adjacent its pivot axis, and electric motor means supported on the base and connected with the target c rrier for oscillating said carrier.

10. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a suitable base, an electo the base to'l'nrn about a horizontal axis and extending upward therefrom, and nun-me for positively oscillating said lamp support.

[1. An apparatus for exercising the muscles of the eyes comprising a suitable base,

an observation target pivotally supported on the base to oscillate about -a=horizonta l axis, and means-independent of any control of a patient for imparting oscillations of predetermined length to th target.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN MILLS POWELL. 

